Poll sees improved business climate in Bulgaria in January 2018

A regular monthly poll by Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute (NSI) has found the total business climate indicator increased in January 2018 by 2.6 percentage points compared with December.

The poll found increased optimism in Bulgaria’s industry and service sectors, while in the construction and retail trades, the level was about the same as in the previous month, the NSI said on January 29.

The indicator for industry was up by 3.8 percentage points, the result of managers in the sector being more optimistic about the situation of their businesses and in their expectations for the next few months.

However, they saw the main factors limiting potential for their businesses as the uncertain economic environment, followed by a shortage of labour.

In the service sector, the indicator jumped by a significant 4.9 percentage points in January 2018, with managers more optimistic about the state of their businesses and more optimistic about expected demand.

They saw limiting factors as including competition in the sector, and the uncertain economic environment.

In Bulgaria’s construction industry, the indicator was largely unchanged from December 2017, though with a slightly lower assessment of the current business situation accompanied by more favourable outlooks about the coming six months.

In the retail trade, the indicator was also similar to that in December. Retailers had slightly improved views about the current state of their businesses and the volume of sales over the past three months, but had lowered their expectations about sales and orders placed with suppliers over the next three months, the NSI said…/IBNA